Movie file won't import into iMovie

I have a digital camera that records video (Nikon Coolpix L4). It saves videos as .mov files. When I try to import them into iMovie, it gives me an unknown error. I have tried converting the .mov files into another format using MPEG Streamclip, but that also reports an error.
Any suggestions? Is this fixable or does it have something to do with my camera, not my software?

Hi
iMovie 1 to 6 is for miniDV Cameras and connects only via FireWire.
All other material has to be concerted.
.mov - is no specific file type - just a container.
Has to be converted to streamingDV to be imported into iMovie 1 - 6.
If You try iMovie'08 it might be able to import.
Or use MPEG Streamclip. Why this doesn't work I can't figure.
May be You need to buy and install: Apple mpeg2 component - BUT NOT SURE at all.
Yours Bengt W

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Ok at the risk of sounding like a complete dumbo...
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eMac Mac OS X (10.4.3)
eMac Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Hi iMovieNewbie - welcome to the forum!
Many people have your ailment!! The problem is that your camera records in MPEG2 format which is really not compatible with iMovie. iMovie's native format is DV, which is designed to be a no-loss, editable format. MPEG is really just a viewing format.
There are workarounds, but they involve converting MPEG into DV, for which you will need:
MPEG StreamClip (free):
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/video/mpegstreamclip.html
and
Apple MPEG2 PlayBack($20):
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/mpeg2/
Read about it all here:
http://www.sjoki.uta.fi/%7Eshmhav/SVCDon_a_Macintosh.html#edit_convertMPEG
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=267352&tstart=0

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ahostmadsen wrote:
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Message was edited by: iJancy

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Hunt

Movie file won't import into iMovie

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